Background
His first art lessons came from his father, the painter Aleksander Sleńdziński. In exchange, his father gave drawing lessons to Moniuszko"s daughter.
His first art lessons came from his father, the painter Aleksander Sleńdziński. In exchange, his father gave drawing lessons to Moniuszko"s daughter.
Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.
Later, when the family moved to Vilnius, he received piano lessons from Stanisław Moniuszko. His first formal painting instruction came from Kanuty Rusiecki. In 1856, when admission to the Imperial Academy of Arts proved too difficult, he enrolled at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.
In 1861, he received the title of "Artist", 3rd degree.
Shortly after, he joined a secret movement associated with the "Lithuanian Provincial Committee", an organization seeking independence for Lithuania. Following his participation in the January Uprising, he was arrested.
After a short trial, he was sentenced to internal exile in Knyaginino, under strict police surveillance. In 1867, he was given permission to live in Kharkov, where he stayed until he was allowed to leave in 1872.
Later, he went to Dresden, where he lived with Józef Ignacy Kraszewski and his family.
lieutenant was then that he first made a name for himself as a portrait painter. He also helped restore the paintings at Kórnik Castle. In 1875, after accidentally crossing the Austro-Hungarian border while hiking, he was ordered back to Kharkov.
Once again, in addition to his customary portraits, he engaged in restorative work.